title: Peripheral facial palsy in children.
abstract: The aim of this study is to evaluate the types and clinical characteristics of peripheral facial palsy in children. The hospital charts of children diagnosed with peripheral facial palsy were reviewed retrospectively. A total of 81 children (42 female and 39 male) with a mean age of 9.2 ± 4.3 years were included in the study. Causes of facial palsy were 65 (80.2%) idiopathic (Bell palsy) facial palsy, 9 (11.1%) otitis media/mastoiditis, and tumor, trauma, congenital facial palsy, chickenpox, Melkersson-Rosenthal syndrome, enlarged lymph nodes, and familial Mediterranean fever (each 1; 1.2%). Five (6.1%) patients had recurrent attacks. In patients with Bell palsy, female/male and right/left ratios were 36/29 and 35/30, respectively. Of them, 31 (47.7%) had a history of preceding infection. The overall rate of complete recovery was 98.4%. A wide variety of disorders can present with peripheral facial palsy in children. Therefore, careful investigation and differential diagnosis is essential.
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey drunsalyilmaz@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Unsal
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Duygu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cubukçu
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Tuba Sevim
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Yılmaz
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gülçin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akıncı
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Muazzez
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozcan
authors.affiliation: Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Orkide
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Güzel
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020330:Bell Palsy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005158:Facial Paralysis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008417:Mastoiditis / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Bell palsy; children; etiology; peripheral facial palsy